Index or file.



!. FISHER.

INDEX OR FILE APPLICATION man uov. 3, was.

Patented July 6, 1915.

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I. FISHER.

INDEX 08 FILE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3, 1913.

j 5, 43; 1 Patented July 6, 1915.

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e r vi r I fri-iiilliili infi IRVING FISHER, 83 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,ASSIGNDE T0 ILEDEF. YISSBLE, IIIGQE- POBATE'D, OF NEW HAVEN,CGHNECIIC'UT, A COEE'QEATIGN QT? KERR 593K.

INDEX 01%. FILE.

To :27] who/n 2'1 may concern 7 Be it known. that I, invrxo Frsnnu, ofthe citv and county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new and useful improvements in Indexes or Files, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and execs description.

This invention relates to indexes or files, and more particularly .to anindex, file, lisc or directory of that class in which a plurality ofsubstantially fiat record members are. arranged to overlap each other toa cerruin extent. so that margins of said members are visible all timesand wherein such record members are carried by and sliduble lengthwiseof a suitable support.

3 he present invention resides in certain improvements in the recordmembers themselves whereby they are held overlapped to r. predeterminedBXlBllt and slidubly supported and guided on or in a supporting frame orguide. t

The improvements also consist in the correlation or combination or" acertain type of record member with a certain type of S13}?- port orguide whereby {he device as a whole is simplified in construction andwhereby the record members may be individually placed in sndreniovedfrom the guide in any desired arrangement with facility and convenience.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of poits to he hereinafter" described and claimed.

in the accompanying droiving, Figure l is a front elevation of an indexor file embodying; my improvements, liig. is a front elevc ion of one ofthe record members, demoi ord memh-"r shown in Fig. 2, Fig.4; enlargedction on line of i section similar to Fig. 4, sho in}: tvo of the.record members nested'to nether. 5 is an enlarged section on acorresponding to the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing tvvo record membersnested to ie iii the bottom of rue guide or support, Fig. :i an enlargedsection on line. (ii' of Fig. .i, shows in front elevation modihcd oi;record member or card mounted on form I a gen e or support of modifiedform. Fig. 8

a section on line 8 3 of Fig. T, Fig. i is a fragmentary view of thecurd, Fig. 10 shows 1e June iorin or card mounted on a support Fig. 3 isa. rear elevaition oi the rec Specification of Letters Eatent.Faignfigfl J m} 6 3%215;

Seril no. roseof a diiierent t me, 11 is a section on line 11l1 of Fi3.0. Fig. 12 is a. transrerse section through two cards of the typeshown in Figs. 741. inclusive, illustrating them as nesced together.Fig. 13 is a front view of said cards. Fig. 1% is a View similar to Fig.13, but illustrates in fidiii tiff a marker or signal card interposedbetween the record cards, and Fig. 15 is 2. section on line 1515 of Fig.1%.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 2. if) is a recordmember composed of a fist rectangular main poriion 11 on which data isWrit-ten or printed, and a flap or tongue 12 extending 1111 ard at theheck of the main poi-non. The flap or tongue 12 forms in connection withthe main port-ion ll of the record member a pocket 13 at the rear of therecord member open at the too, as shown in Fig. i. In the formillustrated. the main portion 11 of Jne record member consists of anind-e2: card of usual form on which the record matter is directlyWritten, but I do not limit myself in this respect, as such main portionmight be made of some other material than paper and it might carry thedam insome less direct insnner. Moreover, in the form shown the tongueor flap 12 is made or paper and suitably secured to the main portion 11near the iower ed e of the latter, as SllOWD. in Figs. 3 and 4. out I donot limit myself in the breed aspects of the invention to a flexiblefiongue or flop or to one which is separately applied to the card orother record carrying or pocketforniing member.

in Fig. l I have shown a plurality of record members 10 grouper iget-her in a. substantially upright guide This guide consists of e. fiatback plate having side ruining flanges l6 and 21 bottom retaining flange1T. referring to F 52 and 3 ii] a. lll be noted um the songues or flaps.ber 10 are such that the side portions 18 of the toneue or flap 12 willextend buck be retained by the side flanges 16 oi she gure when therecord, member is siid into the guide from the open top portion thereof.The record carrying porsion 11. however, 'vviil be free of the sidefizinges lri of the.

' All of the several record members i in the guide are nested togetherthe manner shown in Fig. 5, that is to say,

the lower edge of a record member will rest in and be supported by thebottom of the pocket 13 of the next lower record member,

,upper. margins visible to a predetermined fextenti extent of thisvisibility is, of -eoursey deiliandent on the points of junc-' tion (ifthe tongues 12 with the card members llywhich determine the depth of thepockets the backs of the cards. orm shown, the tongues or fiaps 12extend In the up ard beyond the top edges of the corresponding cardmembers but this is not an g-zssential feature.

In making up the index a plurality of cards are nested together in thedesired arrangement andslid into the guide 15 from the top, or, ifdesired, the cards may be placed in position laterally, which is read-11y permitted by the flexibility of the tongues or flaps, as will beobvious. Certain index data appear on the upper margins ofthe cards, asshown in Fig. 1, and the whole front face of the card is adapted tocarry any'desired data or memoranda which can be readily seen when thecard infront of the same is, flexed outward by the finger, as shownin'Fig. 5. When the card is released by the finger it immediatelyreturns to the normal, substantially flat, position withres'pect. to theguide, in which it is it is: desired to insert or remove a card at anyarticular point, the longitudinally extendin group or series of cards isseparated ior that purpose in an obvious manner by giving j'rgpertainnumber of the cards a sliding movement lengthwise of the guide. It willbe apparent that when it is desired to "have more than-momentary accessto the data'dn the face of one of tile cards it may "be convenient toseparate the group of cards in this same manner;- The flexibility of thecards and tongues, in the embodiment illustrated, permits the insertionor removal of a card in a lateral direction when the series a has beenseparated to open up a sufliciently large gap, but if the record membersare not made of flexible material this same result may achieved inseveral different ways, for instance, by omitting one of the sideretaining flanges, and tilting the guide to prevent falling, in whichcase the record members may be readily slid in place and removed in alateral direction? Referring now to the modified form of the deviceshown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 each card 20 is provided with a tongueintegral therewith. The lower portion of the.card is cut on the line 21,as shown in Fig. 9, to

posing edges of-the flanges 23, after which .the card is again moved toits horizontal position so that thetips of the tongue will catch behindthe flanges. This form of the device is quite similar to that shown inFigs. 1-6, except for the fact that here the main body portion of thecard or other record member is supported at the rear ,by portions of theupright guide. The body portion of the card .or record member issupported from the back at both sides of the center by means of themembers 23 or their equivalents, the front surfaces of which arecontacted by the rear surface of the body portion of the record member.It will be observed that in this arrangement, as well as that 'shown inFigs. 14%, the guide has spaced opposing edge portions with a gaptherebetween, and the record members are located at the front of theguide and have tongues extending back into the gap and nesting saidmembers together. 7 Fur-' thermore, 1n both cases, the tongueb extendback of said edge portions to interlock the card positively with theguide, but this not essential under all circumstances. held-by the othercards or members. \Vhen the same type of card is employed, but the.

In the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 at the front of the guide and havetongues extending backward into:the gap and nesting said memberstogether, but the guide is not provided with a special retaining flangeor flanges for engaging a side edge or side edges of each record member.

Figs. 12 and 13 show the nested arrangement of two cards or members 20of the type just described. The rear card is supv ported at its loweredge 2O on the rearwardly projecting tongue 22 of the card or member infront-of the' same, wherebythe visibilityof the upper margins of theseveral cards of the series is obtained in sub- 7 stantially the samemanner as described in connection with Figs. 1-6. I

Figs. 14 and 15 show an improved arrangement of marker or signal adaptedto be used with a card index system of the type herein described. orother characters may be marln d on the upper margins of the cards forcross-classification purposes. as usual in card index sys-v tems, and Imay use in connection with these characters a series of marker or signalcards corresponding to and adapted to pointor call attention to therespective cross-classification characters.

In the form shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the letters A, B and C on the uppermargins of the cards are supposed to be cross-classification characters,and if it is desired to indicate that the rear card falls underclassification B, for example, a marker or signal card 27 will beinterposed between-said card and the card in front of the same as shown.T he signal card is supported on the tongue 29. of

the front card, as shown in Fig. 15,,and is of such shape orconfiguration as toextend over, point to, or otherwise call attention tothe character B on the rear card. In the form shown the signal card 27is of triangular shape. having a corner adapted to extend over thecharacter B. one edge of the card being engaged with the tongue 22 inparallelism with the lower edges of the record cards.

It will be understood that a signal card of somewhat different shapewill be used in connection with the cross-classification 'character A,and t at still another form of signal card will be ised in connectionwith the cross-classification character C. It will be seen, therefore,that the marker or signal card or member used in 'connection'with acertain record card or member is interposed between said record card ormember and the card or member in front of the same and supported on therearwardly extending tongue of such front card or member. Of course I donot confine myself to any particular shape of the marker elements or toany particular" arrangement or" the crossclassification characters. Infact the cross classification characters may be altogether omitted andthe signal element itself, by Variations of color or of imprintedsymbol.

may serve alone to attract the attention of the user to any temporaryfact 01 interest relative to the member in frontcf which the signalstands.

The foregoing description is necessarily a detailed one. in so far as itconcerns the a particular embodiments of my invention selected forillustration and description. and l reseryethe right to use suchmodifications as are fairly within the scope of. the claims.

\Vhat I claim is: i

- 1. The combination with a guide having a iarginal retaining element,of plurality nested record members slidable 1 Different figures.letters.

' ing a suhst Wise in said guide and each having a portion retained,beneath id retaining element: substantially as described.

2. The combination with a guide having spaced opposin edge portions witha gap 7 therebetween. oi a plurality of record ineirhers located at thefront of the guide and having; tongues. extending lmtliozli'tl into saidgap and nesting; said members together; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a guide haying spaced opposing edge portionswith a ap therebetween. ot' a plurality of record incnihers located atthe front of the guide and having tongues extending hacltv ard throughso said gap and nesting said an nhers together, said tongues extendingheel; of said edge portions and beinginterlocked witl the guide:substantially as described.

l. The combination with a guide having a a main body portion, andmarginal guide flange located out of the .ne 0? the body por ion. of aplurality of nested record members slidalrle said guide and eitendingpartially into the space between said 9 guide flange and the body or theguide; substantiallyas described.

The combination witl a guide har' opposing retaining edges spacedironother. or a plurality of record n and tongues on said record membe-3 portions nesting them together and holding them in i place in theguide by QKttT-i'lllhllmtli of said retaining edge: substantially ascescribed.

.7. A record member for indexes. coinprising a substantially lat rc ordhol 153 portion. and a central rearwardly and up wardly directed tonguejoined to said record portion aloo a line parallel to the lower edge ofsaid record portion. sa'l forming in conjunction with portion an upw;rdly opening pocket: substantially as described.

N. A rccoi member for ii initially fiat ing a central rearwardl rEC'ltrected tongue joined record portion on a ll 1' allel and adjacentto the lower e recoiid por'on: substantially 9. .ln an index or file.the cor a plurality of s .stantially fiat ing members. a central tongued wardly and upwa -'l v from and joined with the. body correspondingineinner on above and substantially parallel to the tower edge of saidmember, said members being nested together 1n a predetermined overlappedrelation by means-of said tongues;

5 substantially as described.

tegrally therefrom, said tongue oined with the body portion of thecorresponding mernher on a line above and substantially parallel to thelower edge of said member, and said tongue being upwardly and rearwardlydirected so as to form a pocket at the rear of the corresponding member,said members being nested together by -m'eans of said tongues so thatthe record holding portions overlap each other; substantially asdescribed.

11. In an index or tile, the combination of a plurality of recordmembers, tongues on the respective members nesting them together inoverlapped relation, and an upright guide frame for said overlappingmembers having portions to support said members from the back onopposite sides, said members being individually or collectively movablein said frame in a vertical direction, and being removable from saidframe in a lateral direction; substantially as described.

12..In an index or file, the combination of a lnralityof record members,each of said members comprising a substantially flat record holdingportion having a rearwardly and upwardly directed tongue locatedsubstantially at the center of said record holding portion and joinedwith the latter on a line substantially parallel to the lower edge ofsaid record portion, said members being nested together in overlappedrelation by means of said tongues, and an upright open frame in. whichsaid overlapped members are guided, and from which they are removable ina lateral direction; substantially as described.

13. In an index or file, the combination of a plural ty of recordmembers, each of said members comprising a substantially flat. recordhold ng portion having a rearwardly I and upwardly directed tonguelocated substantially at the center of said record holdit g portion andJoined integrally with the, latter on a line adJaceht and substantiallyparallel to the lower edge of said record portion, said members beingnested together in overlapped relation by means of said tongues, and anupright frame in which said overlappedmembers are guided, and from whichthey are removable in a lateral direction. said frame having portionswhich support said members at both sides of said tongues; substantiallyas described.

14. In an index or file, a record member comprising a substantially flatrecord holding portion,- and a rearwardly and upwardly directed tonguejoined to said record portion along a line parallel to the lower edgeportion entering and supported in said upwardly opening pocket, wherebysaid record members are heldin a predetermined overlapped relation, anda guide frame supporting the record holding portions of said members atopposite sides, and in which "said members are movable up and down,

substantially as described.

15. In an index or file, a record member comprising a substantiallyflatrecord holding portion and a rearwardly and upwardly directed tonguejoined to said record holdingportion along a line substantially parallelto the lower edge of the latter, and presenting an upwardly openingpocket, a similar record member having its lower edge supported in saidpocket, whereby said members are held. in a predetermined over lappedrelation, and a guide for said overlapped members having spaced opposingedge portions with a gap therebetween, said edge portions supportingsaid record members at the sides, and said tongue being located in saidgap; substantially as described.

16. In an index or file, the combination of a record member, comprisinga substantially rectangular-accord holding portion and, a rearw'ardlyand upwardly directed tongue joined to said record portion along a linetions of said record members, and underly- 7 ing the backs of saidrecord portions so as to "support the same, and the tongues of theseveral record members extending into the gap between said opposlng edgeportionsof the gi1ide;sflbstantially as described.

17. In an index or file, the combination.

of a record member, comprising a s'ubstan-.-

tially flat rectangular record holding portion and a tongue joined tosaid record holding port-ion along a line parallel and adjacent to theloweredge otthe latter, said tongue'e tending from said ;rcc o, rdholding portion in arearward; and upward direction, and being i locatedcentrally of said record member, a

plurality of similar record members having ord portions of said recordsimilar tongues, said record members being nested together in apredetermined overlapped relation by means of said tongues, and asubstantially upright open guide frame having spaced opposing edgeport-ions with a gap therebetween, said edge portions being located atthe rear of the recmembers, and supportingsaid record portions from theinch on opposite sides of said tongues, and the tongues of the severalrecord members extending into the gap between said opposing edgeportions of the guide; substantially as described.

18. In an index, the combination of two record members. a tongue on oneof said members nesting them together in overlapped relation, and amarker or signal ele ment interposed and supported between said members:substantially as described.

19. In an index, the combination of two record members. a tongue on oneof said members nesting them together in overlapped relation, and amarker or signal card interposed and supported between said members:substantially as described.

20. In an index, the combination of a record member having a rearwardlydirected tongue, a second record member behind the first supported onsaid tongue, and a marker or signal element associated with said sec--ond record member in front of the same and likewise supported on saidtongue; substantially as described.

21. In an index, the combination of a record memberpresenting a pocket,and a marker or signal element extending into and supported by saidpocket; substantially as described.

22. In an index, record carrying member having a tongue portionpresenting a pocket, :1 second record member overlappingthe first, and asignal card fitting in said pocket; substantially as described. r

23. In an index, the combination of a record member having a pocket atthe back thereof, a second record member supported in said pocket andextending upward beyond the first, and a signal card interposed betweensaid members and extending npward beyond the first member; substantiallyas described.

24. In an index, the combination of a substantially flat record memberhaving a pocket near the lower edge thereof, and a marker or signalelement comprising a card having its lower edge supported in saidpocket: substantially as described.

25. In an index, the combination of a pluralitygf record membersarranged in a row, said members-overlapping each other so as to exposethe upper marginal portion of each member, means forming pocketsadjacent the lower edges of the respective members, and a marker orsignal card sup rt in at least one of said pockets; substias described.3

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set rriv hand on the 1st day ofNovember, 1913.

' IRVING Witnesses:

HENRY E. ROCKWELL, M. OLIVE IVILLIAMS.

the combination of a I

